Hockey tournament preview: Dartmouth, ORR hoping to make a run

The Dartmouth hockey team will open the playoffs on Monday traveling to play ninth-seeded Rockland, but for all intents and purposes, the Indians began their playoff run nearly a week ago.

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By Andrew Tornetta

southcoasttoday.com

By Andrew Tornetta

Posted Feb. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 24, 2013 at 6:28 AM

By Andrew Tornetta

Posted Feb. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 24, 2013 at 6:28 AM

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The Dartmouth hockey team will open the playoffs on Monday traveling to play ninth-seeded Rockland, but for all intents and purposes, the Indians began their playoff run nearly a week ago.

To qualify for the state tournament, Dartmouth played in a pair of win or go home games, and based on those performances, they are in full playoff form after posting a 6-4 victory over Nauset on Tuesday and a 7-2 win over Somerset on Thursday.

"Needing to win these last two games will help us when the playoffs start because we are already in that mode," Dartmouth head coach Mike Capello said. "In the tournament anything can happen so all you want is to be playing at your best once you get there, and the last two games we played were definitely two of the best we have played this season."

The Indians' season was one of ups and downs, which evened out to a 8-8-4 record that landed them the 24th seed out of 25 teams in the Division 3 South tourney. However, Cappello believes Dartmouth has a lot more to show then what they displayed over their 20 regular-season games.

The Indians are just one year removed from advancing to the MIAA Div. 3 quarterfinals, where they lost to Pembroke, and have qualified for the tournament in each of the past five seasons. Cappello knows that this is a battle-tested team that is not going to shy away from the playoff lights.

"Our record does not indicate how good we really are. We have competed in a tough schedule all year and have that experience of winning when our backs are against the wall. Add all that up and it makes me feel really good about this team's chances," Cappello said. "We're peaking at the right time and are as ready as anyone for the playoffs and I'm very confident that we can do some damage once it starts."

To do that damage, the Indians will be leaning heavily on senior leadership in captains Joey Gomes and Evan McCarthy. Dartmouth is a versatile offensive team that spreads out its scoring with Joey Correia leading the team in points (36) and goals (18) and Gomes (35 points) right behind him. Nick Cardoso will also be a player worth looking out for as the junior wing has come up big recently, scoring eight points in the team's last two games.

The Indians will also be hoping for a repeat of last year from junior goalie Brendan Sullivan, who recorded a combined 67 saves in the team's two playoff victories a season ago. If Sullivan can get on another hot streak, the Indians will be a tough team to knock out.

"Brendan is a very athletic kid and when he is hot he can certainly carry a team," Cappello said. "He has been consistent for us all season long and we rely on him a lot. If we are going to make a run, he's definitely going to be a big part of it."

Record: 8-8-4

Seed: No. 24 in Div. 3 South

Opening matchup: Monday at 7:40, visiting No. 9 Rockland (14-6).

OUR TAKE: The Indians are a playoff-tested team that is capable of an upset or two if they can continue to ride the momentum they ended the season on. Goalie Brendan Sullivan will be a key factor with senior captains Joey Gomes and Evan McCarthy along with leading point scorer Joey Correia needing to play big as well for the team to advance.

Record: 11-7-4

Seed: No. 13 in Div. 3 South

Opening matchup: Tuesday at 6:30, hosting No. 20 Scituate (9-8-3).

OUR TAKE: The Bulldogs capped their regular season on a high note, winning the South Coast Conference title outright for just the second time in school history. However despite the regular season success, they are still a young team with limited playoff experience. "We finished the year with the toughest part of our schedule and fared very well so I would say we are playing some of our best hockey of the season and are hoping to make some noise in the playoffs," head coach Eric Labonte said. The Bulldogs will look for seniors Cam O'Connor, Zach Matthews and Cam Severino to lead the way along with junior goalie Chris Nadeau.